Project information

New treatments for deadly infecions

We have reached our Big Give matching target. While your donations will no longer be doubled, you can still donate to help tackle this growing global health crisis. Antibiotic resistance can affect anyone, but it's children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems most at risk.

Charity information: Antibiotic Research UK

Need

Drug resistant infections are the biggest threat to modern medicine with superbugs killing more than 700,000 people globally each year. In the UK alone, this figure is reported to be at least 12,000. Without a solution, by 2050 it is estimated that 10 million people could die worldwide each year from drug resistant infections. With the likelihood of new antibiotics far away in the future there is a clear need to find immediate ways to save current antibiotics while looking for new treatments.

Solution

Our research programme focuses on developing new antibiotic therapies, identifying non-antibiotic alternatives and providing small grants for early stage research. In particular we are investigating Antibiotic Resistance Breakers (existing drugs which when combined with current antibiotics overcome the superbug’s resistance); specific resistance mechanisms developed by bacteria and alternative non-antibiotic treatments for common illnesses (eg diarrhoea) where antibiotics are often prescribed.

What success will look like

Impact

The project will 1) help to provide an interim solution to the global problem of drug resistant infections, 2) provide ‘personalised medicine’ to patients with antibiotic resistant infections, 3) help to provide an effective alternative to antibiotics when treating diarrhoea and 4) help to breathe new life into early stage antibiotic research in the UK.

Risk

There is a risk that the universities and pharmaceutical companies we work with don’t complete the research to time or to standard. To mitigate this we have carefully chosen our research partners to ensure that they are of the highest quality. Their activity will be guided by our expert Science Committee, conducted under contract and regularly monitored by Prof Colin Garner, Prof Chris Dowson and Dr Lloyd Czaplewski.

Reporting

Donors will be invited to join our mailing list where they will receive a monthly e-newsletter highlighting the project’s progress. They will also be able to follow developments by checking our social media channels which are regularly updated.

Current Funding / Pledges

Location

Antibiotic resistant infections are a growing global problem with an estimated 700,000 people dying each year. While ANTRUK is UK based, the application of our research is worldwide. Within this are some defined groups who are especially susceptible to drug resistant infections, such as the elderly, people living in deprived communities and those admitted to hospital for routine treatments which rely on effective antibiotics, such as hip replacements, cancer treatment and caesarean sections.

Beneficiaries

Antibiotic resistance is life-threatening, with the young and old being most at risk. If we don’t act now, treating infections caused by a cut or graze and medical procedures such as caesareans will become impossible. Without antibiotics life expectancy could reduce by up to 20 years. Therefore, anyone who contracts a drug resistant infection such as pneumonia, septicaemia, urinary tract infections and wound infections could benefit from our research. These are people whose lives we could save.

Why Us?

We’re the only charity dedicated to tackling antibiotic resistance, concentrating our efforts where they will yield the greatest benefit.
Our Science Committee are drawn from eminent scientists and clinicians – leaders in the field of drug resistant infections.
We work with some of the best university laboratories and pharmaceutical organisations.
As a ‘virtual’ organisation, our research takes place in other organisations’ laboratories, making us very cost effective.

I was first diagnosed with drug resistant ESBL in 2013 resulting in regular episodes of Urosepsis. There have been times when oral antibiotics haven't worked and I've had to use 'last resort' IV antibiotics. However as bacteria evolve and more drug resistant strains develop, my battle becomes harder

Miriam is 34 year old musician who lives with an antibiotic resistant ESBL bacterial infection

£150

Could pay for a research scientist for a day

If we fail to act, we are looking at an almost unthinkable scenario where antibiotics no longer work and we are cast back into the dark ages of medicine

David Cameron, former UK Prime Minister

£150

Could pay for a research scientist for a day

If we fail to act, we are looking at an almost unthinkable scenario where antibiotics no longer work and we are cast back into the dark ages of medicine

David Cameron, former UK Prime Minister

£150

Could pay for a research scientist for a day

If we fail to act, we are looking at an almost unthinkable scenario where antibiotics no longer work and we are cast back into the dark ages of medicine

David Cameron, former UK Prime Minister

£150

Could pay for a research scientist for a day

If we fail to act, we are looking at an almost unthinkable scenario where antibiotics no longer work and we are cast back into the dark ages of medicine